On the morning of April 30, 1926, a ceremony was held on campus to commemorate the laying of the cornerstone of the new Engineering Building. The event was so special for the university, morning classes were dismissed so that all students and faculty could attend the ceremony.
Plans for a new building to house the College of Engineering began to take shape in the spring of 1925 when the Trustees approved funding for building plans, which were drawn by local architect Wilbur Hitchcock and Frederick Porter of Cheyenne. On September 23, 1925, the building contract of $133,000 (approximately $2.6 million dollars in 2026) was awarded to W. J. Wilseck of Cheyenne. Survey work began in late 1925, and in late January 1926, earthwork commenced. By late April the historic cornerstone was ready for placement. The building stone came from the UW quarry located approximately nine miles north of Laramie.
At 11 a.m. on Friday, April 30, 1926, the important cornerstone celebration began with music provided by the university band before the Masons from the local Masonic Order placed the cornerstone. State Engineer Frank Emerson delivered a talk titled “Service – the cornerstone.” Governor Nellie Tayloe Ross then spoke of the growing importance of engineering in the state. Engineering Dean Earl D. Hay offered remarks, which were followed by a benediction and the singing of the alma mater by the entire student body.
The Engineering Building was completed nearly 100 years ago when the handsome stone building was ready for occupancy when the new spring term commenced on March 29, 1927.
Post contributed by AHC Archivist and UW Historian John Waggener.
